Nowadays
scientific societies and their publications are under increasing pressure. The
economic climate and a freezing of salary schedules have caused second thoughts
about memberships which had been hitherto considered automatic. It must be said
that the ASA is feeling that economic pinch. Our membership base has eroded over
the past decade to the point that we might soon need to consider cutting some of
our services, something that we want to avoid.

As I talk with ASA people and read their
comments on the Internet, I am impressed by the ways that our organization
continues to help people grapple with science-Christianity issues and the role
of their faith in their professional lives. Get a few of us together and it does
not take long to hatch a project where ASA can reach out to serve others. All of
this requires the funding to keep the organization running. The Executive
Council and Executive Director have the responsibility to look for resources
beyond the membership. However, we bear the responsibility for maintaining our
memberships, recruiting new members as well as sending a check for an extra
amount when the membership bill arrives. Some cultures value books and the
things of the mind over the gadgets that compete so well for the American
dollar. Mark Noll's recent work, The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind
(1994) offers a sobering look at our scholarship. It is only through the ASA and
CSCA that this generation can find an enduring forum for the religious issues
that impinge on the lives of scientists and engineers and build a strong
response to those who claim that "science is all."

If each of us would take the time to recruit
new members, order Perspectives for our church library, and dig a bit
deeper, we could fulfill some of the publication and service needs that cannot
be met in our present circumstances. ASA Executive Director Don Munro and I
would appreciate receiving your comments.